Tree protector



W. J. MMFEE TREE PxoTEc'roR Oct. s, 1940.

, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct ATTORNEYS oct 8, 1940- w. J. MaeFEE 2,217,557

TREE PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 5l, 1939 2 SheeiS-Sheet 2 VNVENTOR ,ZW/g4.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 8, 1940 William J. Macnee, Schenectady,- N. Y; l Applieatin october 31, 1939,`:seria1 No. 302,237

The invention relates to a tree protector'and more especially to aninsect barrier for trees.

The primary `object of the invention is the 'provision kof* a device of this character, ywherein the same when applied to a tree trunk will prevent insects from crawling .upwardly of said trunk or reaching the foliage or limbs .of Vsuch tree vand thereby protecting `it from damageby said insects. A

Another obje'cuofthe invention is the prox/if sion` of a device of this character, wherein the construction thereof is novel in its entirety in that an absorbent band is held in embracing re-.

lation to the trunk of a tree and `has associated therewith a liquid dispenser containing poisonous uid or liquid which is distributed thereby for absorption by such band so that insects making contact therewith will be killed andin this way i such insects will' be retarded in ltheir travel upwardlyof the-trunk of a tree for the damagingfof its limbs and foliage which results in destruction thereof or the growth of the same.

A further object of the invention is the pro# vision vof a device of this character, wherein the samedoes not retard the growth of the 'tree by strangling thetrunk thereof :in that'itis extensible .consistently withthe growth of the trunk of such .tree and will fully protect the tree from insects, being la barrier to suchinsects when crawling upwardly of the trunk of said tree. g

- A still further object Vofthe invention Yis `the provision of -a device of this character, wherein the application thereof to the treeorits removal therefrom can be hadl Without excessive labor and doesrnot require an articer in that connection, the tree being fully protected against attack by. insects and thereby stimulating fthe growth of the tree without damage `theretoby such insects;

A still further object of thednvention .is the `provision of a devicemof this character, which is comparatively simple in its construction,f`,thor. oughly reliable and -eflicient in operation, re`` quiring but little attention, assuring ,protection against insects, durable,`and inexpensive to manufacture and install.. u y

With these and other objects in view, the' invention consists in the features ofvconstruction, combination and arrangement, of parts. as will be Vhereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred and modified forms of .embodiment Vofi the invention and pointed out in the claims here# unto appended. i y c Intheaccompanying drawings: i

larly Figures 1 to 6 and 9, inclusive, A designates :Figure lis afragmentary elevationvv of the trunk.

ofr'aetree-showing-the devicezconstructedin accordance with the invention partly in section and applied to the tree trunk. 1- FigureZ is'asectio'nal Viewtaken onthe line 2--2 vof Figure 1 looking -in the direction ofthe arrows.` s y .i y

' Figure 3 isa sideelevationl partly in section ofv the device as applied, the sectional portion being at substantiallyiright angles to that shown inv Figurel.

4-4 of Figurevl looking inthe dirctiorrzof-the.

Figure 5 is a View through the liquid' dispensing distributory coupling empl'oyedin the'deyi'c'ze.'y rj' Figure 6 is a perspective view'of a hold-'down jaw used inthe device'. if Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation kof a tree showing a.modied-form of the-.device applied thereto.V e,

of Figure '7 looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Figure 9 is a perspective View of another hold down jaw employed in the devicedisclosed in Figures1,2and3.f, I i."

c Similar vreference characters indicate corresponding parts .throughout .theseveral views in the drawings. s 1, 'l :Referring 'toA the drawings ink detail, 'particu'e generally a portionof the trunk ofA a: growing Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on'the line l Figure 8" is. 'afsec'tionalview on the line 8-8 'y tree and B'the' protector orv device' constructed i-n accordance With vthe invention'v and 'in the'pre'v ferred` embodiment thereof. This device B com-` prises Va band I0 of absorbentlbrous material, f

being of. the required width` and length! and is trained about the trunk A of thetree'with the meeting ends II thereof -in overlapped'relation to each; otherI rsothatA this band snugly and tightly,` embraces the'saidtrunk of the tree. n Concentrically about .the band. I0, `'when applied to the trunk A of the tree, is a'fen'cing involving a plurality of staves I2 while located between 4theI .major number wof these staves aredownwardly convergent gripper `and supportingblocksjI3,- each` having the beveled 'pointed end I4 adapted to bite into the bandfvIIl, the staves I2 and the vgripper and supporting blocks f I3 being'strung upon connector wires I5, which arecarried trans `ve'rsely through these inthe StringingA thereof,`

and the ends of said Wires I5 arel'anchored in substantially U-shaped terminalv 'members' `"I6,

these being occupied by a pair 'of-'staves I2: vAssociated with the members I6 'are tiev bolt`s"I'I', v

these being loosely fitted therewith and each is passed through a coiled tensioning spring I8 yieldably coupling the pair of members I 6 to each other and in this manner the fence embraces the band I0, being concentrically about the same so that the said band I will be clamped about the trunk A of the tree, as is clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Concentrically about the fence involving the staves I2 at the upper portion thereof is a conoidal expansible hood or'shield I9 having the upwardly and inwardly curled outer peripheral edge effecting a trough at the upper side thereof, the extension of the said shield I9 being had by disposing the ends 2| in overlapped relation to each other and one of these ends is provided with elongated slots 22 accormnodating fasteners in the form of screws '.23 ixedly tted in the other end of said shield. The shield in its concentrically arranged relationship to the fence rests uponV the blocks; I3-atfthe upper ends thereof and in this rmanner the'j shield is supported about the fence. f

Above the shield I9 and encircling the' fence constituted .by. the stavesf'v I2I are substantially half circular perforated pipe sections 24, these having the closed ends 25 adjacent to each other abutting one another while the other ends of said pipe sections 24 are formed with-.goose necks 26 and are tapped into a two-part coupling nippleZ'I,y which is .threaded in a union 28 of an elbow pipe'29 separably coupled with a dripolater font 30 of a liquid feed reservoir 3l containing a poisonous liquid 32 'and its feed into the font-30 being controlled by a needle valve, the' adjusting stem thereof being indicated at 33, and is accessibleon removal'ofV the vdetachable cap or cover 34 tting said reservoir 3|.".The poisonous liq uid 32 within the reservoir 3I is delivered into Ythe pipeY sections.l 24r whence it4 is distributed therefrom onto the shield I9, being troughed at` 20, anda quantity of this liquid is absorbed by the band I0 for saturating the same. The pois-A onous liquid kills insects when crawling upon the tree trunkin the direction of the band I0 and the shield I9, either below or above the same, yet such band and shield obviate the upward crawling of the insects upon the trunk A when below the band as the device constitutes a barrier'against upward crawling of such insects on the trunk ofthe tree. I f f Engaged with the pipe sections 24 are ther clamping jaws .35 and 36, respectively, the latter jaw being bolted at 3'I lto the two parts of thecoupling 21, and these jaws 35 and 36 are strung upon the wire I5 uppermost of the fence con-Av stituted Vby thestaves I2. The jaws 35 and 36 in their working hold the pipe sections 24 in proper relation `to Ythe shield.` I9 and trained about the fence constituted by :the staves I2.

In Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings there is shown a modification wherein the dripolater font 38', on detachment o-f the elbow 29 therefrom,

`as is shown in Figure l, has a perforated ring pipe 39 coupled ats4lltherewith and this pipe. 39 is located within the wider endof a drip funnel 4I. hung by hangers 42 froml a'reservoirv 43, it having a bail handle 44.engaged with a hook 45 attached to a limb ,4 6 ofa tree 41. The funnel in its association with the reservoir 43 isv directly above the crotch 48 Yof the limb 46 of A the tree 47 so that poisonous liquid will be caused to drip onto the crotch 48 forV the killingrof insects infested at such point; lThe reservoir 43 contains the poisonous liquid tofbe fed to the gtioln when embracing the trunk A of the tree. Additionally, these'blocks I3 support the shield I9 in the manner as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of .the drawings.

The stem`33 when actuated will regulate the flow Yofthe poisonous liquid 32 from the reservoir .4 3Ior the` supply thereof or its flow can be cut olf entirely at selected times. The wires I5 neisztitoffthe` blocks I3xattheir lower ends prevent the outward working 'of these blocksy from between the stavesil2 ofv thefence and retain the said blocks in their biting rela-y tion to the band IIJ." n f 'Ihefence together with the shield I9 can ex`` pand or spread'concurrently with the growth of the trunk A of the tree, the' springs I8 beingso mounted and connected with the members I6 forthis purpose. The bolts I 'I merely-'hold assemblage of the :springs I8 and the said members as 'the saidy bolts freely play through the members I6 so :as not to retard expansion or spreading. of the device; l

Thefstaves' I2 of the fence and `the blocks I`3 are loosely strung upon the wires I5 under the assemblage of the device so that the Asaid fence .with-rtheblocks can Aspread or exp'andcorrev sponding tothe growth of thev trunk A of the tree;t The ends 25 of the pipe sectionsv 24'`sepa rate, under the .expansionor spreading ofthe fence and the shield: ,The poisonous" liquid distributed by the pipe ysections 24'will wet `the/'upper surface of the shield I9 and it is impossible for insectsto make upward progress on theltreeand when 'contacting, withvsuch liquid will'be killed while the .shield effects a :barrier for the upward crawling -of the insects on said 'tree from beneath said shield. y 1 a Each part of the coupling nipple 2'I has the passage 49thereinwhich leads from the font 30 when attached tothis nipple into the pipe .section`24 common thereto. Thus these pipe sections 2"4 have separable Afeeds from the font 30 of the reservoir 3|, the liquid within the latter being delivered to the respective pipe sections 24 in-the working of the device. y What is claimed is: 1. A device of `the character described com.. 'prisingfan absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fence exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving ilex'y libly connected staves, gripping means built with' vsaid fence and engageablev with the band, aco-v noidal hood about said fence andsupported-bysaid- :gripping means, and liquid supply means associ-v :ated with said hood for delivering poisonous liq` uid thereon Vand to the absorbent band.

f2. A device of thefcharacter described comprising an absorbent band fortraining .about a tree trunk,`a fence exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving ilex' ibly connected staves, gripping means built with said fenceand Sngageable with the band;v a conodal hood about said fence and supported by said gripping means, liquid supply means associated with said hood for delivering poisonous liquid thereon and to the absorbent band, and means f-or regulating said supply means.

3. A device of the character describedy comprising an absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fence exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving ilexibly connected staves, gripping means built with said fence and engageable with the band, a conoidal hood about said fence and supported by said gripping means, liquid supply means associated with said hood for delivering poisonous liquid thereon and to the absorbent band, means for regulating said supply means, and an upturned portion at the outer periphery of the hood forming a trough.

4. A device of the -character described comprising an absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fence exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving flexibly connected staves, gripping means built with said fence and engageable with the band, a conoidal hood about said fence and supportedby said gripping means, liquid supply `means associated with said hood for delivering poisonous liquid thereon and to the absorbent band, means for regulating said supply means, an upturned portion at the outer periphery of the hood forming a trough, and means Aincluded with the fence r for the expansion thereof.

prising an absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fen-ce exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving exibly connected staves, gripping means built with said fence and engageable with the band, a conoidal hood about said fence and supported by said gripping means, liquid supply meansv associated with said hood fo-r delivering poisonous liquid thereon and to the absorbent band, means for regulating said supply means, an upturned portion at the outer periphery lof the hood forming a trough, means included with the fence for the expansion thereof, and means included with the hood for the spreading thereof concurrently with the expanding of the fence.

6. A device of the character described com prising an absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fence exteri-orly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving flexibly connected staves, gripping means built With said fence and engageable with the band, a conoidal hood about said fence and supported by said gripping' means, liquid supply means associ-A ated With said hood for delivering poisonous liquid thereon and to the absorbent band, means for regulating said supply means, an upturned portion at the outer periphery of the hood forming a trough, means included with the fence for the expansion thereof, means included With the hood for the spreading thereof concurrently With the expanding of the fence, and a sectional perforated discharge element included with said supply means superposed relative to said hood.

7. A device ofthe character described comprising an absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fence exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving ilexibly connected staves, gripping means built With said fence and engageable withthe band, a conoidalvhood about said fence and supported by said gripping means, liquid supply means associated with said hood for delivering poisonous liq- Auid thereon and to the absorbent band, means for regulating said supply means, an upturned portion at the outer periphery of the hood forming a trough, means included With the fence for the expansion thereof, means included with the hood for the spreading thereof concurrently With the expanding of the fence, a sectional perforated discharge element included with said supply means superposed relative to said hoodfandmeans clamping said element in Working relation to the hood and fixed to the fence.

8. A device of the character described comprising an absorbent band for training about a tree trunk, a fence exteriorly about said band when trained about the trunk and involving flexibly connected staves, gripping means built with said fence and engageable With the band, a conoidaly hoodr about said fence and supported by said gripping means, l-iquid supply means associated with said hood for delivering poisonous liquid thereon and to the absorbent band, means for regulating said supply means, an upturned portion at the outer periphery of the hood forming a trough, means included With the fence for the expansion thereof, means included with the hood for the spreading thereof concurrently with .the expanding of the fence, a sectional perforated discharge element included With said supply means superposed relative to v said hood, means clamping said element in working relation to the hood and iixed to the fence, and flexible strands trained through the staves of said fence and having anchored terminals.

WILLIAM J. MACFEE. 

